Living a Virtue-Driven Life

Adopting a virtue-driven life, as modeled by Jesus, is a profound, meaningful, and transformative way to live. Jesus, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, exemplified numerous virtues that can guide us in our daily lives, helping us to live with purpose, integrity, and compassion. Consider some of the following virtues that Jesus exemplified:

Openness: Jesus lived in the “present moment,” aware and open to what was happening around him. This allowed him to see reality as it was. It enabled him to see and respond to people in need who were ignored or discarded by others. For example, consider Jesus’ encounter with the hemorrhaging women (Mark 5:25-34), or with Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52).

Love: Jesus’ life was grounded in unconditional love. He taught us to love our neighbors and to even love our enemies (Matthew 22:37-39; 5:44). This kind of love is selfless and sacrificial, always seeking the best for others. By embracing love, we can create a more compassionate understanding world. As Jesus said, “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13).

Wisdom: Jesus sought wisdom and encouraged others to do the same. He taught that true wisdom comes from God and leads to a fulfilling life. (“Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12). Pursuing wisdom helps us to make sound decisions and to live in alignment with our values.

Truth: Jesus valued truth and integrity. He spoke the truth with love and stood firm in his convictions. Living truthfully means being honest with ourselves, with God, and with others, and standing up for what is right, even when it is difficult. Jesus, who is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6), promised that “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” ( John 8:31b-32).

Faith: Jesus demonstrated unwavering faith in God. He trusted in God’s plan and remained committed to his mission. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven…”(Matthew 6:9- 11), and he cautioned, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Faith gives us courage, strength and hope, especially in challenging times.

Self-Control: Jesus possessed the ability to control how he responds to his physical, mental, and emotional desires and submitting them all to the will of God. For example, see Jesus’ exercising self-control in his responses he gave when tempted in the desert by “Satan” (Matthew 4:1-11). Similarly, focusing our lives on the centrality of God and God’s will helps us to exercise self-control in the temptations and adversities of life that we may face.

Prayer: Jesus was nourished and sustained by God through a life of prayer. He would routinely go off to a quiet place by himself to commune with God and pray. “But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (Matthew 6:6) He taught his disciples how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13). Through prayer we speak with God, communicating our love, gratitude, and dependence on God, experience God’s presence, seeking God’s will, allowing God to transform us and become more Christlike.

Humility: Despite his divine nature, Jesus lived a life of humility. He washed the feet of his disciples and served others without seeking recognition (see John 13:1-17). Humility helps us to stay grounded, to recognize the reality of who we are, warts and all, our strengths and weaknesses, and to value others above ourselves.

Compassion: Jesus never turned away from those in need. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the suffering. “When [Jesus] went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick” (e.g. Matthew 14:14 NRSVCE). Living a value-driven life means being attentive to the needs of others and responding with kindness and empathy.

Forgiveness: One of the most powerful examples Jesus set was his willingness to forgive, even those who wronged him deeply (“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Forgiveness frees us from the burden of resentment and allows us to move forward with peace in our hearts.

Service: Jesus came to serve, not to be served. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:46). He dedicated his life to helping others and fulfilling God’s will. Through serving others, we find meaning, purpose and joy in our lives, and we contribute to the common good.

Courgage: Jesus chose to say and do what was right and just despite difficulty, temptation, fear, rejection, suffering, or persecution. Consider the events leading to Jesus' passion, crucifixion and ultimately his death (for example, see Matthew 26:1-27–27:50).

Peace: Jesus is often called the Prince of Peace. He promoted peace in his teachings and actions. As Jesus offers, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid" (John 14:27). Striving for peace in our relationships and communities helps to create a harmonious and just society.

Justice: Jesus stood up for the oppressed, marginalized and outcasts of society. Jesus challenged unjust systems and advocated for fairness. (e.g. the parable of the “Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:30-37); the parable of the “Judgment of the Nations” (Matthew 25:31-46)). Living justly means working for and striving to give others their just due, and standing against injustice.

By embodying these virtues, you can strive to live a life that reflects the heart, mind, soul, way and teachings of Jesus. It is a journey that requires love, dedication, self-reflection, prayer, engagement with Scripture, supported by a community centered on Christ, and self-sacrifice, but it leads to a life of meaning, fulfillment, and deep connection with others and with our God.